The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe: A Classic Fantasy Adventure

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"The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" is a fantasy novel written by C.S. Lewis. It is the first book in "The Chronicles of Narnia" series and was published in 1950. The story follows four siblings - Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy - who discover a magical wardrobe that leads them into the mystical world of Narnia. Upon entering Narnia, the siblings find themselves caught in a battle between good and evil.



The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

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Select Citation Style Copy Citation Share Share Share to social media Feedback Written by Cathy Lowne Cathy Lowne is a contributor to 501 Must-Read Books. Cathy Lowne Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

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The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Nov 21, 2023 • Article History Table of Contents Category: Arts & Culture

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, fantasy novel for children by C.S. Lewis, published in 1950.

Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy have been sent to a house in the English countryside during World War II to avoid the air raids. The house is owned by the bewhiskered Professor, who allows them to have free rein over the property, despite the objections of his steely housekeeper. While exploring, Lucy steps into a large, antique wardrobe, “the sort that has a looking-glass in the door,” full of fur coats. She soon finds herself in a snowy wood, where she meets a faun, who invites her home for tea. When Lucy decides that it is time to go home, Mr. Tumnus the faun bursts into tears and confesses that he is meant to kidnap her and hand her over to the White Witch, a descendant of the biblical Lilith, who rules Narnia and keeps it in a permanent state of winter. He relents and takes her back to where they met, from where she makes her way back to the wardrobe. The others refuse to believe her (to them, she has only been gone a few seconds) and accuse her of lying.

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During a game of hide and seek, when she decides to hide in the wardrobe, Edmund follows Lucy, and he too finds himself in Narnia. He, however, encounters the White Witch and through flattery is persuaded to return, bringing the others with him. When, eventually, the four children make it through the wardrobe together, Mr. Tumnus’s home has been wrecked and he is under arrest. The children encounter kindly Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, from whom they first learn about Aslan, a majestic lion who is the realm’s rightful king and who is on the verge of returning. At some point, Edmund slips away to find the witch, and the others have to flee for their lives to the stone table, where Aslan and the witch will do battle.

The story is an allegory of Christianity, with Aslan’s sacrifice mirroring that of Jesus Christ, called “the Lion of the tribe of Judah” in Revelation. It also includes elements of Germanic, classical Greek and Roman, and Celtic mythology. J.R.R. Tolkien, Lewis’s fellow professor at Oxford and a fellow member of the Inkings literary society, criticized that “patchwork” and suggested that the character of the Professor owed much to Gandalf, the wise wizard of The Hobbit and the laterLord of the Rings trilogy—which, perhaps not coincidentally, was also a saga of the battle between good and evil. Lewis followed The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe with six books that, with the first, constituted his Chronicles of Narnia series.

A film version of the story was released in 2005, with Tilda Swinton as the White Witch and Jim Broadbent as the Professor. Two other installments in the Chronicles of Narnia followed, but the series remains incomplete.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (book)

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, often shortened to LWW, was written by C. S. Lewis and published in 1950. It records the adventure of four ordinary English children - Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie - who found their way into the magical land of Narnia by way of a wardrobe that they stumbled across in an old house.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe was the first of the Chronicles of Narnia to be written and published, and the first in the original book series, but the second chronologically after The Magician's Nephew.

Upon entering Narnia, the siblings find themselves caught in a battle between good and evil. The White Witch, Jadis, has cast a spell over Narnia, causing it to be in a state of perpetual winter with no Christmas. Aslan, the wise and majestic lion, emerges as the rightful ruler of Narnia and seeks to overthrow the White Witch's reign.

Contents

  • 1 Chapter Listing
  • 2 About Narnia
    • 2.1 Time
    • 2.2 Atmosphere
    • 3.1 Inside the Wardrobe
    • 3.2 The Prophecy
    • 3.3 Back to London
    • 7.1 Dedication
    The lion the witch and the

    Through their adventures, the Pevensie children meet fantastical creatures such as talking animals, mythical beings, and even Father Christmas. They ally themselves with a diverse group of Narnians, including Mr. Tumnus, the faun, and Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, who guide them on their journey to meet Aslan. Edmund, influenced by the White Witch's temptations, betrays his siblings and aligns himself with her. However, he ultimately realizes his mistake and makes amends, proving his loyalty to his family and the cause of good. As the story progresses, the children must face challenges, overcome their fears, and make sacrifices to fulfill their roles as the prophesized Kings and Queens of Narnia. With the help of Aslan, they battle against the White Witch and her forces to restore peace to the land. "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" is not only an exciting adventure but also explores themes of loyalty, courage, sacrifice, and redemption. It captures the imagination of readers with its enchanting world and memorable characters. Lewis' allegorical writing style draws parallels to Christian beliefs and moral lessons while providing an entertaining and thought-provoking narrative. The book's success led to the creation of six more books in "The Chronicles of Narnia" series, each offering unique tales set in the magical world of Narnia. "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" remains a beloved classic and has been adapted into several films and stage productions, captivating audiences with its timeless tale of good versus evil..

    Reviews for "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe: A Tale of Sibling Relationships"

    1. Emily - 1 star
    I found "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" to be rather boring and lacking in excitement. The characters were one-dimensional and I couldn't connect with any of them. The plot felt predictable and unoriginal, and I found myself struggling to stay engaged throughout the book. Overall, I was quite disappointed and wouldn't recommend it to others.
    2. James - 2 stars
    "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" had potential, but it fell short for me. The writing style was simplistic and at times felt like it was trying too hard to be magical. The pacing was also quite slow, and it took too long for the story to really get going. Additionally, I found the religious undertones to be heavy-handed and distracting. While I understand that it is a classic and beloved by many, it just didn't resonate with me.
    3. Sarah - 1 star
    I didn't enjoy "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" at all. The characters felt flat and lacked depth, and the dialogue seemed unnatural and forced. The world-building was also lacking, and I struggled to visualize the settings described in the book. The story didn't hold my interest, and I found myself skimming through pages just to get it over with. Overall, I found it to be a forgettable and unengaging read.

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